Vehicle coupler



0d; 9, 1945. I c CLARK 2,386,195

VEHICLE COUPLER Filed Feb. 12, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 f INVENTOR. Ken/7 ef/r CT C/ark BY I . fITTORNEXi Oct. 9, 1945. I c CLARK 2,386,195

- 1 VEHICLE COUPLER Filed Feb, 12, 1944 I ZSheets-Sheet 2 INV-ENTOR. I flew/767% C. C/ork BY r M,

ATTOR/YEYS.

Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STAT P TENT OFFICE 7 i VEHICLE COUPLER Kenneth d Clark,Watsonville, Calif. i I I Application February 12, 1944, Serial No. 522,168 Q 14 Claims. (c1.2s-'-3s.14)

The present invention relates to improvements in a vehicle coupler, and it consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangements here ina'fter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an improvement over the Vehicle couplershown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 428,169, filed January 26, 1942, now Patent 2,341,528. In the co-pending case I show a vehicle coupler in which the pintle is carried by the truck andthe tongue of the trailer is connected to jointed arms prior to moving the truck close enough to the trailer to cause theeye of the tongue to register with the pintle. The backing of the truck toward the trailer after the arms have been extended and connected to the tongue causes them to swing the tongue automatically for aligns connection to the pintle can be made;

In the present form of the invention, the pintle is carried by the jointed arms which in turn are secured tothe truck. The pintle is connected to the tongue eye after the tongue has been brought within the sweep of the arms, by extending the arms from'the rear' of the truck until the pintle registers with the eye. After connection is made between the pintle and tongue, the truck can be backed'toward the'trailer and the pintle will'be automatically moved into the proper position with respect to the truck body and then be automatically connected thereto. Manually actuated means is used for disconnecting the pintle from the truck body and this means may be locked for holding the pintle securing means in retracted position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction and durable and efficient for the purpose intended. The device permits the driver after connecting the pintle to the tongue eye, to back the truck toward the trailer without regard to moving thetruck into any particular position with the trailer and the device will first move the pintle into the proper position on the truck and then will automatically secure the pintle to the truck without the necessity of the driver moving backward and forward several times for aligning the pintle with thetongue eye, which is now the usual practice.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

My invention is illustrated in the accompany- Figure it a plan View of the device showing the pintle connected to the tongue eye when the truck is still separateda considerable distance from the trailer; V Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure the pintle secured to the truck;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation'o'f the truck and pintle showing only a portion of the device? Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken substan tially along the line 55-of Figure 4; i j

Figure 6 is a rear view of the pintle'securing mechanism; and l I V t Figure 7 isa section taken along the line 'l--'l of Figure 2. V

While I have shown onlythe preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may befmade within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of I the invention. n V

In carrying out my invention I make use of a truck or other prime mover indicated generally at A and I also show a, trailer indicated generally atB. The trailer has a tongue C that is swingable about a fifth wheel I. The tongue can also pivotabouta horizontal hinge 2. 3 I

A pintle indicated generally at D is removably secured to the truck ina manner hereinafter described andis carried by jointed arms E and E. ThearmsE and E have links 3 and 4 hinged at 5 and 6 respectively to the rear ofthe truck A. Links 1 and 8 are hingedat 9 and In to the links 3 and 4 respectively and have their outer ends pivoted at H and I2 to ears l3 and M which are integral with the pintle. The arms E and E permit the pintle tobe removed from the rear end l5 of the truck into an extended position where the pintle hook l9 may be passed through an eye lfi'formed )in the tongue. Figure 4 shows the pintle D as having a keeper -l1 that is hinged at l8 and is designed to close the top of the pintl hook l9,

The links of the arms E and E when moved into closed position, as shown in Figure 2, will direct the base 20 of the pintle toward the rear center of the truck end l5. Arcuate-shaped guides 2| carried by the truckend IE will guide the base 20 into proper position, as shownin Figure 2, when the truck A is moved toward the trailer B. f Th meansfor automatically securing the pin-- 1 but shows tle to the truck is shown in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive. Figure 4 shows the pintle ready to be moved against the rear channel of the truck and the channel has openings 22 and 23 for receiving pintle lugs 24 and 25. Figures 5 and 6 show springpressed bolts 26 and 21 carried by stationary lugs 28 mounted on the channel l5 and coil springs '29 enclosing portions of the bolts, bear against certain of the lugs 28 and against collars 36) mounted on the boltsgfor moving the bolts so that their free ends will enter openings in the lugs 31 disposed on the opposite sides of the lug receiving openings 22 and 23, see Figure 6. The pintle lugs 24 and 25 have openings 32 for receiving the bolts 26 and 2'! when the latter are moved into extended position.

Normally the bolts 26 and 21 are held in retracted position and this is accomplished by mechanism that will automatically free the bolts after the pintle base has been moved against pintle is moved against the channel I5, the lower lug will pass through the opening 23 and will contact the arm 35 ior wfiigingit into a horizon tal position, as shown by the broken lines in Figure 4. The swinging of the arm QQth'IQugh an arc'of 90 will rotate the'rod 33 through onequarter of a circle and will move the stop '35 to free a hand lever 38 The hand lever-is S'pivoted at 39 to the channell5 and is 'connecte'd to the bolts 26 and 21 by a link 40 and a leverM;

it should be understood that the operator in releasing the pintle from the channel has swun the hand lever 33 into the position shown. The hand lever isheld in this position by a Springpressed bolt-.42 that has been freedto projectin back oi the hand lever, asindicated inFi'g'ur'e 6. The bolt '42 has a head 43 which is turned through an are or 90 for n eejih-g the bolt and the turning movement permits the bolt spring to move the bolt into ngag ment with the hand lever. This 111 hold the bolts 2531122121 free'froin the pmue lugs "and the pintle may be moved away from the channel 15, and will be supported by the arms E and E in the manner already stated. The heeihg of the pintle from the channel I 5 will permit the arm as to swing into a vertical position by the action of the spring 3'! and this will rock the rod 33 for swinging the stop 35 into a position to en'- ga'g'e with a shoulder on the hand lever 38 and prevent its return.

when the pintle is ag'ain connected to the channel the hand bolt '42 is retracted and secured in retracted position and the hand lever $38 will be held against return movement by the stop 35 contacting therewith. If new the pintle is moved for causing the lugs 24 and 25 to enter the openings 22 and 2-3, the lowe lug 2 -5 will swing arm 36 for actuating the rod 33 and for moving the-stop 35 out of contact with the handlever' 38 as above stated. The springs 29 will move the bolts 26 and 21 forwardly for causing them to enter the openings '32 of the lugs 24 and 25'. In this way the pin-tle is automatically securedto the channel.

parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate how the truck A and trailer B are connected together when the tongue C is within range of the extended arms E and E. The pintle D is freed from the channel [5 and is extended by means of the arms E and E to a point where the hook I9 can enter the eye IB of the tongue 0. The keeper IT is moved down upon the top of the hookand then the truck and trailer are moved a relatively toward each other. This movement will cause the arms E and E to fold so that the link I will parallel the link 3 and the link 8 will parallel the link 4. The linksehter channel-shaped guides 44 of the shape shown in Figures 1 and '7. As the links are folded into closed position, they will guide the pintle 'baSe'ZD toward the arcuate guides 2|. this movement the tongue 0 will be swung with respect to the trailer should the trailer B be out of alignment with the truck A. Before the truck and trailer are moved toward each other, the bolt 42 will be secured in retracted 'pesition and therefore the entering of the pintleliigs 24 and 25 through the channel openings will cause the lower lug 25 to release the hand lever 38 automatically and the bolts 25 and 2Twill pass through'th lug openings in the manner already described. The bolts now connect the pintle to the channel l5. The channels are reinforced by a member 45, see Figure 4, if desired and this member will have openings registering with the openings '22 and 23.- The arms E and E do not carry any of the weight of the pintle or any pulling force after once the pintle has been-secured to the channel.

'W-hen freeing the trailer from the truck, it is merely necessary to raise the keeper-l1 andd-isconnect the tongue (I from the hook i9. The pintle D will remain connected to the channel I5 ready for a subsequent connection to the "tongue of the same trailer or to a different trailer. The bolts 26 and 21, have tapered portions 25a and 21a for entering tapered openings in the lugs 28 and. 31 and in the pintle lugs 24 and 25. The tapering of the bolts and the-openings is such that there will be a snu'g'fit between the various parts to stop anyrattli-ng and wear. Moreover the tapered portions ofjth'e bolts will automatically take up-any'wear between the-parts as it occurs. l

I claim: 1 I,

l. The combination'with. a pulling vehicle. and a second vehicle having a pivoted .ton'guew-ith an eye, of elbow-like arms ,pivota'lly carried by the first vehicle, a pintle pivotally oarr-iedby the..'free ends of the arms and receivable in the ton-gueveye when the tongue isina position to-be within the ange of the swing of the arms, said-arms swinging the pintle and eye toward the rear center of the first vehicle when the two vehicles are moved relatively toward each other, andj'xneansffor securing the pintleto fthe'first vehicle after the bintle has been brought into? with the first vehicle;

eohnectibie relation 2. The combination with e pulling'vehicle and a second vehicle having a pivoted tongue'withan e e, er elbow-unearths pivotal ly carried by the first vehicle, a pintle pivot-ally carried "by iree ends of the arms and receivable the tongue eye when the tongue is in 'a position to be within the rahgeer the of the arms/said arms swinging the pintle and eye toward the rear eenter "of the first vehicle wrrentne two veni-eles are moved relatively towardeach'other, ancient-e- 'From' the foregoing description bfthe'various 7 5 mane means for securmgthe pintle 'to the'first During vehicle after the pintle h'a s 'lbeenbrought into connectible relation with "the firstjvehicle, said means including a spring-actuated pintle-holdingmember, a tripior'holding :the member retracted, s aid trip being actuated by the pintle'for releasing the holding member when the pintle is "when the two vehicles are within a certain dis tance of each other, said pintle supporting means guiding the pintle to "a predetermined -place-at the rear of the vehicleas the two vehicles'are moved toward each other for'coupling' purposes, .and means for securing the pintle to the first vehicle. a w

4; The combination with two vehicles having two vehicles togetherpsaid coupling means including a tonguepivotallyconnected to one of the vehicles and a pintle, of pintle supporting means "carried by the other vehiclefor moving the pintle into operative engagement with the ton'gue'when the two vehicles are within a certain distanceof each other, said pintle supporting mean's-guiding the pintle to apredetermined place at the rear of the vehicle as the two vehicles are moved toward each other for coupling purposes, and automatic means for securing the pintle to the first vehicle, said means including aspring-actuated pintleholding member, a trip for holding the member retracted, said trip being actuated by the pintle for releasing the holding member when the pintle is brought into connectible relation with the holding member.

5. The combination with a pulling vehicle and a second vehicle having a fifth wheel with a tongue connected thereto, said tongue having an eye, of tongue-swinging means carried by the first vehicle, a pintle carried by the tongueswinging means and connectable to the tongue eye when the vehicles are a certain distance apart, said means swinging the tongue and pintle when the two vehicles are moved toward each other for moving the pintle against the rear center of the first vehicle, and means for securing the pintle to the first vehicle.

6. The combination with a first vehicle, a second vehicle having a swingable tongue with an eye, of a pair of elbow-like arms pivoted to the first vehicle, a pintle connected to the free ends of the arms and being receivable in the tongue eye when the vehicles are within a certain distance of each other, the lengths of the arms being such as to guide the pintle against the rear center of the first vehicle as the two vehicles are moved toward each other for coupling purposes, and means for securing the pintle to the first vehicle. Y

7. The combination with a first vehicle, a second vehicle having a swingable tongue with an eye, of a pair of elbow-like arms pivoted to the first vehicle, a pintle connected to the free ends of the arms and being receivable in the tongue eye when the vehicles are within a certain distance of each other, the lengths of the arms being such as to guide the pintle against the rear center of the first vehicle as the two vehicles are moved toward each other for coupling purposes,

coope'ratingcoupling means forconne'cting the and means for securing the'pintleto thejfirst vehicle; and guides for directing the pintle into the proper position on the first vehicle. 1

8; The combination with a-vehicle, a'second vehiclevhaving a'pivoted tonguewith an eye, a pintle; of means carried by the first vehicle and movable supporting the pintle for permitting the pintle to be connected to the'tongue forswinging the tongue and moving the pintle when the two vehicles are moved toward each other for causing the pintle to contact with the rear of the first vehicle; said means comprising a pair of jointed arms pivoted to the first vehicle near the rear centeryeach jointed arm consisting of a link extending from the pivot and having alength slightly less than the distance from the pivot to the adjacent vehicle side, and a second'link pivoted to the free, end of the first link and in turn being pivotally connected to the pintle; said pintle when connected to the tongue and the'two vehicles are moved toward each other causing the links to fold, the arms bringing the pintle into the desired position with respect to the first vehicle, and means for securing the pintle to the first vehicle. 1 1

-9. The combination with a vehicle, a second vehicle having a pivoted tongue with an eye, a pintle; of means carried bythe first vehicle and movably supporting the pintle for permitting the pintle to be connected to the tongue for swinging .the tongueand moving the pintle when the two vehicles are moved toward each other for causing the pintle to contact with the rear of the first vehicle; said means comprising a pair of jointed :arms pivoted. to, the first vehicle near the rear center; each jointed arm consisting of alink extending from the pivot and having a length slightly less than the distance from the pivot to the adjacent vehicle side, and a second link pivoted to the free end of the first link and in turn 7 being pivotally connected to the pintle; said pintle when connected to the tongue and the two vehicles are moved toward each other causing the links to fold, the arms bringing the pintle into the desired position with respect to the first vehicle, and means for securing the pintle to the first vehicle, said first vehicle having lug receiving openings, lugs carried by the pintle and being guided into the openings by the arms as the vehicles are moved toward each other, said pintle securing means including lug engaging members for securing the lugs to the vehicle.

10, The combination with a vehicle, a second vehicle having a pivoted tongue with 'aneye, a pintle; of means carried by the first vehicle and movably supporting the pintle for permitting the pintle to be connected to the tongue for swinging the tongue and moving the pintle when the two vehicles are moved toward each other, for causing the pintle to contact with the rear of the first vehicle; said means comprising a pair of jointed arms pivoted to the first vehicle near the rear center; each jointed arm consisting of a link extending from the pivot and having a length slightly less than the distance from the pivot to the adjacent vehicle side, and a second link pivoted to the free end of the first link and in turn being pivotally connected to the pintle; said pintle when connected to the tongue and the two vehicles are moved toward each other causing the links to fold, the arms bringing the pintle into the desiredposition with respect to the first vehicle, and means for securing the pintle to the first vehicle, said first vehicle having lug receiving openings, lugs carried by the pintle and being guidedinto the openings by the arms as the vehicles are moved toward eachiother, said pintle securing means including lug engaging members for securing the iugs to the vehicle, said first vehiole having link supporting members and pintle guiding members, said link supporting members causing :the links to raise or lower'the pintle if need lie while said guiding members align the lugs laterally with the openings for causing the lugs to enter the openings as the two vehicles move toward each other. 7

'11. In a device of the type described, a vehicle frame having a of openings therein, a pair of jointed arms pivoted to the frame near openings, a pintle carried by the freeends of the arms and having lugs adapted to entert'he openings when the arms are .folded, said lugshaving openings therein, and bolts adapted to enter the lug openings for securing the pintle directly to the frame when the lugs are received in the frame openings.

I2. Ina device of the type described, a vehicle frame having a .pair of openings therein, a pair of .jointedarms pivoted to the frame near the open-- ings, a pintle carried by the free ends of the arms and having lugs adapted to enter the openings when the arms are iol'ded, said lugs having open-- ings therein, andloolts adapted to enter the lug openings for securing the =pi-ntle directly to the frame when the lugs are received in the frame openings, manual means for retracting the bolts, locking means for holdingthe imanual means and :loolts in retracted position, said locking means being actuated by one of the lugs after entering the lug opening tor swinging the locking means for automatioaily freeing the manual means, and

springs ior'urging' the bolts into the lug openings when the bolts are .freed.

13.. Inadeviee of the type described, a vehicle frame having agpair oiopenings therein, a pair of jointed arms pivoted to theiframe near the openings, a pintle carriedby the free ends of the arms and having lugs adapted to enter the openings when the arms are folded, said lugs having openings therein, and bolts adapted to enter the lug openings for securing the pintle directly to the irame when the lugs are received in the frame openings, manual means for retracting the bolts, locking means for holding thetma-nual means and bolts in retracted position, said locking means being actuated by one of the lugs after entering the lug opening for swinging the locking means .for automatically fleeing the manual means, and springsgfor urgingthe bolts into the lug openings when the .holts are freed, and auxiliary means for holding the manual in retracted position independently of the locking means.

14. The combination with a vehicle framehava {pair of openingsitherein, a pair of jointed arms pivoted to the frame near the openings, a pintle carried fby the .free ends of the arms and having lugs adapted to enter the openings when the arms :are ielded, said lugs haying openings therein, and bolts adapted to enter the lug openings for securing the pintle directly to the frame when the lugs arereceiyed in the frame openings, 21 secondyehicle having a pivoted tongue with an eye, said vpintle being receivablein said tongue eye when the vehicles are within a certain distance of each other. a

C. CLARK. 

